Newsroom

New research and education partnership to foster innovation in Cascadia

10/10/2018

Providence Health Care, St. Paul’s Foundation, and Mitacs partner to advance health care for British Columbians

Vancouver, BC – Mitacs and Providence Health Care, with support from the St. Paul’s Foundation, are partnering to foster innovation in research and technology for the benefit of health care in BC in support of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor.

Through the three-year agreement, postsecondary researchers will be invited to address pressing health care challenges brought forward by Providence Health Care with support from Mitacs. Graduate student interns and postdoctoral research fellows who participate in the program will receive first-hand experience in solving frontline issues in health care on the west coast.

Eligible projects will be supported through Mitacs’s internship and fellowship programs, which provide an opportunity for graduate and postdoctoral researchers to apply their specialized expertise to challenges in industry and community settings. In turn, Providence will benefit from the opportunity to access top research expertise to bring health care solutions to patients faster, more efficiently, and at a lower cost.

Quotes:

Catherine Chick, Chief Information Officer, Mitacs
“Mitacs is a partner in building the Cascadia region as a place of robust health care innovation. This agreement with Providence Health Care will strengthen the ties between innovators on the front lines in hospitals, including St. Paul’s, with the up-and-coming research talent at postsecondary institutions — all for the benefit of our region’s economy and long-term prosperity.”

Fiona Dalton, CEO, Providence Health Care
“By having a dedicated program that creates easy access to expert knowledge in health care, business development and research, Providence Health Care, Mitacs, and St. Paul’s Foundation are building on Cascadia’s strengths and working toward a new health innovation hub for BC with the development of the new St. Paul’s. We are committed to creating partnerships that will translate innovative ideas into tangible outcomes for our patients.”

About Mitacs:
Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for 19 years. Working with more than 60 universities, thousands of companies, and both federal and provincial governments, Mitacs builds partnerships that support industrial and social innovation in Canada. Funded by the Government of Canada, all provinces, and Canadian universities, Mitacs internships and fellowships connect companies and organizations with researchers to advance innovation and support growth. For information, visit mitacs.ca/newsroom.

About St. Paul’s Foundation:
St. Paul’s Foundation raises funds to support compassionate, inspired care at all Providence Health Care facilities in BC. The funds we raise help put patients first, through a collaborative, integrated approach that includes the best in clinical care, world-class research and education. Our care facilities include the globally renowned St. Paul’s Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, St. Michael’s Centre, St. Vincent’s: Brock Fahrni, St. Vincent’s: Honoria Conway-Heather, St. Vincent’s: Langara, and Youville Residence. Through fundraising and strategic partnerships, the Foundation supports Providence in building on its long history of innovation, leading advancements in care for the people of British Columbia and beyond. To learn more, visit www.helpstpauls.com.